Apparatus for starting electric motors



June 24-, 1941. w, THOMPSON 2,247,073

ABPARATUS FOR STARTING ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed Feb. 3, 1939 I we on on Inveht or Louis W. Thom s on,

b3 76 Hmborne g Patented June 24, 134i assume APPARATUS FOR STARTING ELECTRIC MOTOR-S Louis W. Thompson, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewYoi-k I 1' Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254,42ii

7 Claims.

My invention relates to the starting of electric motors, particularly small electric motors such as may he started by connection directly to a supply circuit, and has forits object apparatus for starting electric motors in such a manner as to prevent the detrimental flicker of electric lamps connected to the same electric supply circuit as the motor.

It is customary in the starting of certain types of small electric motors, especially alternatingcurrent capacity and split-phase motors, to cornnect the motor d'ne'ctly. to the electric supply source without external starting resistance. This method of starting results in a starting current several times greater than the full load running current of the motor and has the disadvantage of causing momentary dimming or flicker of the electric lamps connected to the motor supply circuit either directly or by a supply transformer. In fact, small electric motors are most often constructed for a 110 or 220 volt supply source so that they may be connected directly to an electric lampcircuit. This flicker of the lamps is caused by'voltage drop in the lighting circuit, hence lower current in the lamps, resulting from the relatively low initial impedance of the motor. As the motor accelerates, its impedance increases to a steady-state or working value and the lamps resume their original or approximatelyoriginal brightness.

To minimize lamp flicker, which is generally perceptible in ordinary household lamps upon the starting of refrigerator motors, oil burner motors, and the like and constitutes aconsiderable source of annoyance to persons utilizing the lamplight, it is proposed to provide a saturable core reactor in series circuit with the supply and the motor having a high reactance which will reduce the current drawn by the motor at a standstill. A direct current winding having a relatively high inductance is provided on a common core withthe reactor for gradually increasing the flux in the reactorcore and thereby decreasing the (on. l72--28il) The initial high reactance of the reactor and the gradual decrease of its reactance value minimizes the usual sharp flicker of electric lamps which occurs when high currents are drawn suddenly.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference should he had to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 of which is a circuit diagram il lustrating my invention in one form; and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an alternative form. Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Fig. 1 an electric motor Ill, specifically illustrated as a split-phase capacitor motor, although I do not intend to be limited thereto since my invention is applicable to other electric motors as well, the motor l0 being supplied irom a suitable source (not shown) through the supply conductors H and I2 which are in series circuit with a running winding l3 anda starting winding [4 respectively.

Connected in series circuit with the supply conductor I2 and the motor ill is provided a reactor l5 of the saturable cole type, that is, a reactive winding wound'on a saturable magnetic core IS.

A suitable direct-current winding l-l having a relatively high value of inductance is provided on the common magnetic core I6 to afiord 'a means or increasing the flux in the core l6 and thereby reactance value of the reactor. The high inductance of the direct-current winding introduces a time delay in the building up of the direct current in this winding, this time delay being variable in accordance with the inductance value to introduce a quarter second or half second delay before the full value of the direct current is reached. A voltage responsive relay having its windingsconnected across the terminals of the motor is used to short circuit the reactor when its minimum reactance value has been reached for applying thereafter full line voltage to the motor.

decreasing'the reactance value of the reactor IS in awell-known manner. The direct-current winding I1 i fed from the direct-current terminals l8 of a suitable rectifier l9, such as a copper oxide rectifier, whose alternating-current termi. rials 2c are connected by the conductors 2| and 22 to the supply conductor [2 across the reactor ii. In this manner the potential drop across the reactor I5 is applied to the rectifier l 8, direct current being supplied from the rectifier to the direct-current winding ll on core it. In addition, a shunt circuit 23, normally disconnected at starting by a relay 2, extends from the conductor l2 across the reactor l5. The normally open relay 21 has a voltage responsive winding 25 connected across the supply conductors H and I2 adjacent the terminals of the motor [0 and is arranged to operate when the voltage across motor terminals exceeds a predetermined value.

In operation, the motor i0 is connected directly to the source of alternating current (not shown) and current is supplied through the conductors H and It. The inrush of high current that would ordinarily occur when the motor III is placed directly across the line, since the motor H) has a relatively lowimpedancewhendeveloping no back E. M. F. at standstill, is reduced to a much lower value by the reactance oi the reactor it which is designed to have a relatively high increased by reason or dire detrimental lamp flicker,

lamp flicker is barely perceptible.

relatively high inductance direct current I ciently, the incre line current will be supplied to the electric motor 30 is'shown con with a supply conductor 31 and a supply coning 31 being energizedthrough a rectifier which is supplied with alternating current by a I reactance value, before the flux in the core i3 is the direct-current winding 11. In this manner, the usual high voltage drop in the line and large intake of current by the motor ill at the instant of starting,-which causes the greatest amount of is reduced so that the the reactor IS .The high voltage drop across immediately causes current to flow in the conto the rectifier 19. The rectiductors 2| and 22 fier, in turn, supplies a direct current to the di- 'rect-current winding l1 which causes an increase of flux in the core l6, thereby reducingthe reactance value of the reactor 15. As hereinbefore indicated, the direct-current winding I1 is of a to limit the rate of transient building up of direct current in this winding, the inductance being of such a value that the direct current gradually approaches the maximum value only after a time delay of onequarter to one-half second. A time delay of such duration is sufilcient to allow only a gradual increase in current drawn from the source so that the brightness of the lamp load is not materially afiected.

In the scheme illustrated in Fig. 1, it is true across the reactor l that, as the potential drop decreases, the potential available/to force current through the altemating-current conductors 2| and 22 to the rectifier l3 also decreases, but willcient potential is available to supply direct current in the winding l1 to achieve the gradual increasing saturating of the core l6 and .reduction of the reactance of the reactor 15. The potential drop across the reactor I5 is of a m nitude more than su in the winding l1 up to its full value instantly if it were not for the retarding eilects of the high inductance of this winding. When the reactance of the reactor has decreased to a predetermined value and the potential drop across the reactance has fallen suffiased potential at the motor terminals then available causes the relay 24 to pick up to close the shunt circuit 23 for short circuiting the reactor 15. 1 Approximately full motor I through the low resistance circuit including conductor i2, the shunt circuit 23 the motor it and the conductor II. Since the reactor I5 is short circuited by the circuit 23, the potential drop across the reactor is reduced to a very small ,value' and accordingly the potential available'on the rectifier is reduced, so that only a negligible direct will be supplied to the winding l1.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which illustrates my invention in an other form, a suitable electric nected in series ductor 32 having-in series circuit therewith a reactor 33 would on a magnetic core 34. The motor 30 is illustrated as a split-phase capacitor motor having the windings 33 and 33, although as before, I do not intend'to be limited thereto. Also wound on the ms etic core 34 is a directcurrent winding 31 having a relatively high inductance for introducing a time delay in the building up of a direct current therein, the windconductor 33 connected to the supply conductor 3| and another conductor 43 connected through a fixed contact 4| of a relay 42 to the supply conct current flowing in ificient to tend to bring the the 1 closing of the shunt current ductor 32. A movable contact 43 on the relay 42 normally engages the fixed contact 4| connected to theconductor 43 for completing the circuit through the conductor 43 to line 32 whenthe 5 motor 33 is de-energized and during the initial starting period, as will be hereinafter explained. A shunt circuit 44 isprovided for short circuiting the reactor 33 when the relay 4! picks up to engage a fixed contact 45 arranged to col0 operate with the movabl ing 43 of the voltage responsive relay 4! is connected across the supply conductors 3| and 32 adjacent the terminals of the motor 33.

To operate the motor 33, the supply conductors l5 3! and 32 are connected to the source (not shown), the current to the motor 33 being materially reduced by the initial high reactance of the reactor 33." Simultaneously, alternating current is fed to the rectifier 38 through the con- 'ductor 33, the conductor and the movable contact 43. Direct current is then supplied from the rectifier 33 to the directcurrent winding 31, but the value of this direct current is small at first due to the relatively high inductance of the winding 31, the curr gradually increasing as this inductive eflect is overcome. As explained before in connection with Fig. l, a time delay of one-quarter second to one-half second is introduced in the building up of the direct current in the -winding 31 to its full value. If desired, of course, the inductance oi the winding 31 may be increased to provide a time delay in the building up of the direct current of even greater duration than onehalf second.

-With the gradual increase of direct current in the winding 31, there is a corresponding decrease in the reactance value of the reactor 33 because of. the increased flux in the core 34, thereby de- 40 creasing the potential drop across the reactor 33.

When this potential drop is decreased to a predetermined value, suflici across the terminals of the mo ing of the relay 4! to cause the relay 4| to pick up, its movable contact 43 engaging the fixed contact 43 to close the shunt circuit 44 across the reactor 33 and Simultaneously, the movable contact 83 of the relay 42 is disengaged from the contact 4|, and the alternating current supply to the rectifier 33 is disconnected. The motor 33 then receives approximately full line current through its circult including the supply conductor 32, the shunt 44 and the supply conductor 3i, and the motor is operated at full speed. The introduction of the relatively high reactance of the reactor 33 in the motor circuit at starting together with the gradual decrease in this reactance and finally the short circuiting of the reactor 33 is effective to reduce and minimize lamp flicker so that it is barely perceptible and not so great a source of annoyance to the users of the light as was previously the case.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, 0! course.

. that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be'mbde, and I theretore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as 'iall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A starting device for an alternating current electric motor comprising a saturable core reactor arranged to be connected in series circuitl.

e contact 43. The wind- 43,thefixed contact in ent ent potential is available tor andthe. windshort circuit the reactor.

- ternatlng current terminals connected across cult with an alternating current motor at current in said winding gradually to reduce the reactance value of said reactor, a switch for short clrcuiting said reactor, and means responsive to the reduction or" reactance of said reactor value for operating said switch to increase the voltage on said motor.

2. starting device for an alternating current electric motor comprising a reactor arranged to be connected in series circuit with an alternating current motor at starting, a magnetic core for said. reactor, 2, high inductance direct current winding on said core for gradually reducing the reaotance value of said reactor over a substantial time interval, means including a rectifier for supplying direct current to said win-ding, a switch for short circ means responsive to remained terminal voltage on the motor for one I 3. A starting device for an i motor comprising a reactor: e to be con nected in series circuit with alternating c rent motor at starting, a magnetic core for said reactor, a direct curr nt winding on said core for gradually reducing the reactance vaclue oi re actor, means including a rectifier havin its al "is"; current reactor for supplying direct current to said winch ing, a switch for short oirculting said reactor, and means responsive to the reduction of reac tance or said reactor to a predetermined value for operating switch to increase the voltage on the motor and simultaneously to disable said direct current i. a starting device for an altcrnat current electric motor com crising a reactor having two termite-ails arranged to he connected in series sir starting, a magnetic core for said reactor, a direct current winding on core having high in ductance tor introducing a substantial time do ug said reactor, and

assessors lay in the building up of direct current in said winding, and means including a rectifier having its alternating current terminals connected across said reactor termials for supplying direct current to said winding.

5, The combination with an electric motor and a source of alternating current supply therefor of startmg means for said 7 motor comprising a saturable core reactor in series circuit with said source for limiting the current to said motor at starting, means including a direct current Windlng having a relatively high inductance for introducing a substantial time delay in the building up of direct current in said winding gradually to reduce the reactance value of said reactor, and rneans responsive to the reduction of reactance of said reactor for short circuiting said reactor, whereby the starting current to said motor is maintained below a predetermined maximum. d. In combination, an alternating current load having a relatively low initial impedance and a relatively high Working impedance, a reactor connected in series with said load, a core for said reactor, a single direct current winding arranged in induotve relation to said core, and means for supplying direct current to said winding, said winding being so arranged that the transient build-up of direct current therein occupies approximately the same time interval as is required for variation of said load impedance from s initial value to its Working value.

Incombination, an. alternating current load -ng relatively low initial impedance and a relatively high working impedance, said high Working impedance being attained a predeterruined time interval after the application of power to said lead, a reactor connected in series with said load, core for said reactor, a single direct current Winding arranged in inductive relation with said core and having an inductance such that the transient build-up of current ther through occupies a time interval approximately equal to said predetermined time interval.

' LOUIS W. THOMPSON. 

